Antique Balinese barong singha mask from Bali, Indonesia, c. 19th century

Description

This impressive antique barong singa mask was made by a master carver.  It features smooth flowing lines above the eyes and around the mouth, along with the expected bulging eyes and menacing teeth of the
singa
(sometimes spelled
singha
).
It measures 7 1/2 inches (high) x 7 inches (wide) x 5 1/2 inches (deep).  It comes with a custom display stand made specially for this mask.  When on the metal stand, the height is 10 1/4 inches.
The mask has a beautiful patina, with traces of original red and black pigment still remaining.  It has a very old break on one side where the hole that held the head band would have been; the missing piece is hardly noticeable when the mask is on the stand.  The jaw has an old crack on both sides that appears to have been repaired decades ago.
Antique barong masks of this age and quality rarely come on the market.  This beautifully carved piece was collected in Tegallalang, a district in the Gianyar Regency of Bali.
As noted in
Balinese Masks: Spirits of an Ancient Drama,
by Judy Slattum, Tuttle Publishing, 2003, p.110:  "[Barong singa] is like Banaspati Raja, ruler of the forest.  Barong Singa's image is associated with abundance and virility, and like the god Siwa, he is connected with sexual regeneration in the form of rain, which promotes growth in the earth.  ...This Barong is rare, indicating that few villages have been directed by the deities to commission a sacred mask from a venerated carver or purchase the costume from another professional."